Presser-foot for sewing machines



June 4, 1935. D, KA LE 2,003,665

PRESSER FOOT FGR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 1 6, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gvvuem/bob John D. Karle June 4, 1935. J. D. KARLE 2,003,665

PRESSER FOOT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f! John D. Karle Patented June 4, 1935 PATENT orrica PRESSER-FOOT FOR SEWING MACHINES John D. Karle, Roselle The Singer Manufacturing Company,

Park, N. J., assignor to beth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 16, 1934, Serial No. 706,807

12 Claims.

5 of functions, such as, edge-stitching, smocking,

ornamental outlining, blind or invisible stitching of cord or braiding-piping, binding, shirring and cording with either visible or invisible stitching, tucking, lace insertion, lace edging, picoting, plain stitching and various other kinds of finishes.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the. invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side presser-foot.

Figure 2 is a top plan view. I Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.

- Figure 4 is a cross-section taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 2. "Figure 5 is a front elevation. Figure 6 is a rear elevation.

elevation of my improved Figure 7 is a front elevation partly in section.

Figure 8 is a side elevation showing the shirring or gathering attachment in its ineffective position.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the presser- 'foot and the shirring attachment, the shirring attachment being in detached position.

Figure 10 is a' perspective view showing my improved presser-foot used for shirring and cording.

Fi e 11 is a perspective view showing the presser-foot used for cording only, the shirring attachment being in ineffective position.

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the operation of blind-stitch cording and shirring.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a modification of my improved presser-foot' and shirring attachment. I

Figure 14 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the modified presser-foot shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a side elevation showing the shirring attachment'in its effective position, and

Figure 16 shows the shirring attachment in its ineffective position.

.111 its preferred embodiment, my improved presser-foot comprises a shank l adapted to be secured by the screw II to the usual presser-bar I2 of the well known Singer sewing machine.

Carried by the shank I0 is a sole-plate indicated generally as l3 (Figures 2 and 9) having a flat work-engaging sole-portion l4, an inclined portion l4, and a raised toe-portion IS. The flat portion H is provided with a work-guiding slotl6 which also serves as a needle-openingand is formed with a guiding groove 16' in its lower face in alignment with the needle-path. The raised portion I5 is provided with left and right open-ended guiding slots I1 and I8, respectively. It will be observed in Figure 4 that the ends of the slots l1 and I8 extend from the opposite sides of the sole-plate each to a point beyond the center and are oppositely inclined, the purpose of the inclination being to facilitate the passage of material therethrough. It will be understood in this connection that when the end of the slot I8 is used as an edge-guide the margin oi the material is led down through this slot and thence to the stitch-forming mechanism; and when the end of the slot I1 is used the margin of the material is led up through this slot and down through the slot l6.

An auxiliary edge-guiding plate 22 is adjustably secured upon the top of the sole-plate by means of the screw l9 which extends through the elongated aperture 20 in the upstanding ear 2|. The plate 22 is provided with a depending guidelip 23 which enters the slot IS in the sole-plate and it is obvious that the effective depth'of the slot is determined by the position of the guidelip 23.

The plate 22 also carries an upstanding element 22' formed with a cord-guiding aperture-24 having an entrance opening 24'. The shank I0 is provided with an aperture 25 through which braid or cord can be passed from back to front. A slot 26 is provided to facilitate the placing of the cord or braid in the aperture.

Removably carried by the toe-portion I5 of the sole-plate is a shirring attachment formed with an upwardly inclined toe-portion 28, a substantially flat portion 29, and a raised portion 30. The toeportion 28 is formed with a U-shaped clearance notch 28', and the portions 29 and 3|! are formed with L-shaped upstanding flanges 3| and'32, respectively. The shirring attachment may be placed in either eifective or inefiective position. As shown. in Figures 1-4, inclusive, the shirring attachment is in its effective position, in which position the free limbs of the L-shaped flanges 32 extend over the edges of the portion ii of the sole- 55 plate and the free limbs of the L-shapedflange 3| extend beneath the lower face of the portion l5. In Figure 8 the shirringattachment is shown in its ineffective position, the free limbs of the flanges 3| extend over the edges of the portion 15 of the sole-plate in this position, and the flanges 32 are disposed in front of and above the sole-plate.

Carried at the front end of the shirring attachment is an upstanding lip 33 formed with an entrance slot 34 terminating in a cord-guiding aperture 35.

The portion 30 of the shirring attachment is formed with a curved spring-finger 2'! (Figure 4) which is adapted to enter the slot I8 in the soleplate and thus yieldably but firmly hold the shirring attachment in its effective position.

Figure 10 shows my improved presser-foot used for simultaneously shirring and cording. As shown; the shirring attachment is in its effective position, the cord 40 being led through the cordguiding aperture over the upper face of the sole-plate and down through the slot Hi to the guiding groove I 6' located in the lower face of the flat portion M of the sole-plate. The material B to be shirred and to which the cord is to be attached is placed underneath the presserfoot. It is preferable to have the tension on the upper or needle-thread tight when it is desired to use the shirring attachment. When the attachment is in its effective position, there is no pressure on the work in rear of the stitch-forming mechanism, consequently, the Work-advancing movement of the feed-dog effects only the body material in front of the stitch-forming mechanism and the material between the points of needle-penetration are drawn together by the tension of the thread. The needle also pierces the cord and gathers or shirrs the cord and the material B simultaneously, thereby producing a pleasing effect. I

Figure 11 shows the presser-foot used to attach a cord 4| to fabric. As shown the shirring attachment is in its ineffective position, the free ends of the lips 3| extending over the raised portion l5 of the sole-plate. The cord4l isledthrough the cord-guiding aperture 35 over the upper face of the sole-plate and down through the slot I6 to the guiding groove I6 in the lower face of the sole-plate. When the sitch-forming mechanism is operated the needle pierces the center of the cord and stitches it to the fabric.

Figure 12 shows the presser-foot used for shirring and blind-stitching a cord to fabric. As shown, the shirring attachment is in its effective position and the cord M is led through the cordguiding aperture 25 in the shank l0, thence to the cord-guiding aperture 24 in the element 22', over the rear edge 46 of the slot 5 to the groove IS in the lower face of the sole-plate. The rear edge 46 of the slot 16 is in a position relative to the needle 41 so that the blade of the needle as it descends will engage and rub against the edge 46. This arrangement definitely locates the needle point close to the rear edge 46 of the slot Hi to permit thin cords or braids to be blind-stitched which otherwise would not be pierced by the needle. As the needle descends, it pierces the cord but does not go through its face and thus the cord is secured to a piece of fabric B without stitches appearing on its face. It will be understood that when my improved presser-foot is used, as shown in Figure 12, the cord 41 is attached and the fabric B shirred concomitantly and in a single operation.

Figures 13 and 14 show a modification of my improved presser-foot. In the modified form the raised portion l5 of the sole-plate I3 is formed with longitudinal grooves 41 in its edges and the shirring attachment is formed with upstanding L-shaped flanges 48. In its operative position the free ends of the L-shaped flanges 48 extend into the grooves 41 in the sole-plate. The shirring attachment may be withdrawn from its operative position and placed in an inoperative position in which position the free ends of the upstanding L-shaped flanges 48 overlie the upper face of the raised portion l5 of the sole-plate.

The shirring attachment is formed with a finger 49 which acts as a stop when the attachment is placed in its ineffective position, as shown in Figure 16, by striking the end of the sole-plate, thereby preventing the attachment from being forced too far onto the sole-plate.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the

construction, manner of operation and several advantages of my improved presser-foot will be clearly and fully understood. Itis apparent that such a device has a wide variety of uses, and it will be understood that the form, construction and arrangement of the several elements employed may be varied. Therefore, the privilege is reserved of resorting to all suchlegitimate changes therein as may be-fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:-

1. The combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocatory needle, of a presser-foot comprising a shank provided with an aperture extending from front to back for guiding a cord from a point in rear of the needle to the needle, a sole-plate formed with a needle-opening carried by said shank, and a shirring foot carried by said sole-plate, whereby the work may be shirred and corded concomitantly. I

2. A presser-foot comprising a shank adapted to be secured to the presser-bar of a. sewing machine, a sole-plate carried by said shank, said sole-plate being provided with left and right openended edge-guiding slots and a needle-slot through which the needle descends, and a depending guide-lip extending into said needle-slot and adjustably secured to said presser-foot for determining the effective depth of said slot.

3. A presser-foot comprising a shank adapted to be secured to the presser-bar of a sewing machine, a sole-plate provided with a needle-opening carried by said shank and a shirring attachment removably secured to said sole-plate, said shirring attachment beingv formed with a U- shaped notch at its front end and an upstanding lip formed with an entrance slot terminating in a cord-guiding aperture at its rear end, whereby material may be corded and shirred concomitantly.

4. A presser-foot comprising a shank adapted to be secured to the presser-bar of a sewing machine, a sole-plate provided with a needle-opening carried by said shank and a shirring attachment carried by said sole-plate, said shirring attachment being formed with two sets of L-shaped flanges one arranged above the other whereby said attachment may be mounted in a plurality of positions.

5. A presser-foot comprising a shank adapted to be secured to the presser-bar of a sewing machine, a sole-plate carried by said shank and to be secured to the presser-bar of a sewing machine, J a sole-plate carried by said shank and formed with a work-engaging portion and a raised toe-portion, and a shirring attachment removably secured to the raised toe-portion. of said soleplate, said attachment and raised toe-portion being so constructed and arranged that said attachment may be placed in its effective position with its front end underlying the work-engaging portion of the sole-plate, and withdrawn from its effective position and placed in its inefiective position with its front end located in advance of and above the lower surface of the work-engaging portion of said sole-plate.

7. A presser-foot for sewing machines having a shank, a work-engaging sole-portion and a raised toe-portion projecting forwardly from said sole-portion, and a shirring plate detachably connectible to said toe-portion in a plurality of positions at difierent elevations.

8. A presser-foot for sewing machines having a shank, a work-engaging sole-portion and a raised toe-portion projecting forwardly from said sole-portion, and a shirring plate detachably and slidably connectible to said toe-portion in a plurality of positions at different elevations. I

9. A presser-foot for sewing machines having a shank, awork-engaging sole-portion and a raised toe-portion projecting forwardly from said soleportion, a shirring plate detachably connectible -to said toe-portion in a plurality of positions at different elevations, and an upstanding member formed with a cord-guiding aperture carried by said shirring plate. I

, 10. A presser-foot comprising a shank, a soleplate carried thereby and having a work-engaging portion formed with an edge-guiding slot through which the needle descends and a toe-portion provided with a plurality of open-ended guiding slots I and a plate adjustably secured to said sole-plate and having an edge-guiding lip extending into the edge-guiding slot through which the needle descends. I v

11. A presser-foot having a shank and a soleplate carried thereby and provided with a needleopening, and a shirring attachment formed with upstanding L-shaped flanges embracing said soleplate, said shirring attachment having its front end bifurcated and its rear end provided with an and provided with a needle-slot and with a groove located in the lower face of said sole-plate in rear of and in alignment with theneedle and a cordguiding element adapted to embrace the cord and located on the top of said sole-plate and in rear of the needle.

. JOHN D; KARLE. 

